So I've recently been on a quest for some less expensive "do it all" bullets for the various cartridges I reload for, 9mm, .45 ACP, and .223/5.56. I do carry either a 9mm or a .45, and the .223 is a Ruger Mini 14 that's primarily a range toy, but could also be called on for HD. What I'm looking for is a bullet that I can use at the range, as well as being viable for HD/SD, and for now, let's set aside the arguments against reloading SD ammo. My current primary loads are:
9mm, 124 gr. RMR "Match Winner" TC FMJ
.45 ACP, 225 gr. coated lead TC, either Missouri Bullet Co. or Bayou Bullets
.223, 62 gr. bonded (?) SPBT, over-run purchase from RMR (no longer available)
Currently, all HD handgun ammo is either hollow point or some weird boutique design that I don't expect will be around long . And the educated selection of ammo is generally based on FBI tests of penetration and expansion, with the "best" falling into a specific range. Seems pretty much anything else is consigned to either range or competition use.
So silly question number one, does the lack of a hollow point automatically disqualify a bullet for HD/SD? And if so, why?
And silly question number two, what about bullet shape? I have no way of testing it myself, but I've read that a flat point bullet is better at transferring energy than a round nose. This makes sense logically, but I've long since learned that logic doesn't always apply to firearms.
I've selected the bullets I'm currently using because they're inexpensive, and they work well in my guns. I enjoy reloading, but not all the testing. My range trips can be few and far between at times, so just figuring out one new load can take weeks or longer, and that leaves me no time for just enjoying shooting. I also tend to keep all mags loaded with whatever SD ammo I'm using at the time, which means I have to unload and reload for range trips. Not a big deal if I'm only shooting one, but I usually take several guns with me, and that eats into what limited time I have. And yes, it would make sense to do that the night before, but I don't always get to plan ahead, more often than not, it tends to be spur of the moment.
My goal is to find one inexpensive bullet, figure out a good enough load, and stick with it. This is partly to save money, but also an attempt to simplify my life, I have enough other complications that I have to deal with on a daily basis . Of course, this quest is currently complicated by the near total lack of component availability, I got lucky and scored a brick of small pistol primers last week, but there are no 9mm bullets to be had in anything other than cast or coated lead, and that seems to go for .45 and .223 as well.
Final silly question, am I hunting a unicorn? Or am I just being unreasonable, and need to stick to factory ammo for SD/HD, and keep the reloads to range use? Later.
Dave